Reluctantly, I left the hospital and drove home.
Opening the door, I was surprised by a flash of light.
�What the hell?� I muttered.
�Where were you?� Chris asked, putting down the camera.
�What�s with the camera?� I asked, sitting down.
�I had to take a picture of the first time our little JC was late.� Then he sat down next to me. �Where were you?�
�Why do you wanna know?�
�You were with that Jessica girl, weren�t you?�
�What if I was?� I asked defensively.
He shrugged. �Nothin�. Just wanted to know.�
�Oh. If you really wanna know, her EX boyfriend punched her in the stomach and she was in the hospital.�
�Oh. Why�d he punch her?� he asked, confused.
�He meant to punch me. But she jumped in the way.� I sighed.
�Do you know why?�
I shook my head.
�OW! What�d you do that for?� I shouted, holding the back of my head.
�For not realizing it.�
�For not realizing what?�
�That she likes you,� he said simply.
�She said it was because I didn�t deserve it,� I suddenly recalled.
�Uh huh. And she did?� he asked, not believing.
�She said it was her punishment for not breaking up with Keith before.�
�Uh huh. That still doesn�t change the fact that she likes you.�
�What�s with this whole �she likes you� thing?� I asked exasperatedly.
�Cuz she does.�
I groaned and stood. �I�m just gonna go to bed. I gotta get up tomorrow.�
�Why?�
�Did you not hear me? Jessie�s in the hospital!�
He smirked.
�What?�
�You like her.�
�What?�
�You like her,� Chris repeated.
�So what if I do?� I defended.
He held up his hands in defeat. �Nothing. Just pointing it out.�
I shook my head and went to bed, falling asleep just as I hit the bed.
<<>>::::<<>>
I stared hard at her sleeping figure.
Her hair splayed out underneath her head, like black streams. Her face showed no sorrow, nothing at all. Just peace. Her chest rose and fell with each breath. Her body still. I wished my life was like that. Worry free and peaceful.
She stirred. Then her eyelids opened.
�Hey.�
She stretched. �Hey JC.�
�How are you?�
�Um�I�m fine. You?�
I sensed that she was uneasy, but chose to ignore it. �Fine.�
�Is there any food around here?� she asked.
�Yeah.� I took out a bag. �Here.�
�Oh! How�d you know?� she asked, taking the bag.
�A little bird named Heather told me,� I joked.
She laughed. �McDonald�s can make anyone feel better.�
I smiled. �So how many tests did they run?�
�Like, 3 or 4.�
�Oh. Cool.�
Then a nurse came in. �So you�ve already brought her the goods huh?�
�Couldn�t resist.�
She laughed.
�So when can I get outta here?� Jessie asked, biting into a fry.
�This afternoon.�
�Yes!� she cried.
�That�s great,� I told her.
�Duh it�s great! Now I can spend the rest of the day with you!�
�And the rest of the tour.�
She laughed. �How could that have slipped my mind?�
I laughed. �What do you wanna do?�
�When I get outta here, I�ll tell you,� she joked.
I smiled.
�Hey C wassup?!�
I turned my head. �Hey Justin.�
�Yo wassup Jessie?� he asked, giving her a high five.
�Nothing really. I just wanna get outta here!�
He laughed.
�I�ll just leave you 3 here,� the nurse announced, leaving the room.
�We have only 2 more days of vacation, and I wanna use �em!� Justin exclaimed.
�I�ll be outta here this afternoon, though,� she said hopefully.
�Good. Then we can all go out and have a fun time, right?� Justin asked.
�Yeah!� we cried.
<<>>::::<<>>
I roamed around the halls, looking around for the doctor. His name was Dr. Wolverton.
�Good morning JC,� came a voice.
I whipped around. �Hey doctor.�
�I have some news.�
�What, what, what?�
�You seem to be anxious. You her boyfriend?�
�No. A good friend.�
�I wouldn�t have been able to tell the difference.�
�Well then what�s the news?� I asked eagerly.
�It appears that she is still able to have children,� he announced happily.
I whooped for joy. I didn�t know why. I was happy for her.
�Thank you!�
�Welcome. And she can leave in a half an hour.� Then he turned around and left.
I walked back to the room as fast I can.
�Hey JC! Where ya been?� Jessie asked.
�Yeah really JC. Tell us,� Heather inquired.
�Nothin�. I was just walkin� around.�
�Oh.�
�But you can get outta here in a half hour.�
�Woo hoo!� she cried.
�Alright!� Heather joined in.
Then she jumped out of the bed, still in the nightgown.
�Where�s my stuff?� Jessie asked.
�In the closet.� I pointed.
�Oh. I�ll get my stuff and change. I�ll be out in a sec.�
After she got into the bathroom, Justin started talking.
�Man. She�s pretty cool. For a chick that is.�
�Of course she is,� Heather and I said at the same time.
He shook his head.
�What?�
�You-�
I cut him off. �Don�t even think about it Justin. I�ve already heard from Chris. I don�t need to hear from you.�
�I wasn�t gonna say you liked her.�
�Oh. What were you gonna say?�
�I was gonna say that you REALLY like her,� he laughed.
Heather joined in on his laughter.
�Shut up.� I could feel the heat coming up my cheeks.
He just kept laughing. �You do.�
�So what if I do?� I asked defensively.
�Nothin�. Good choice if ya asked me.�
I cooled down, but just a notch.
�Hey guys! Did I miss anything important?� Jessie asked as she emerged from the bathroom.
We looked at each other.
�No. Nothing at all,� I said, before Justin got to say a word.
�Great. Let�s get outta here. This whole white thing is just crampin� my style.�
I laughed. �Yeah. Let�s go.�
�Yeah. Let�s go,� Justin mocked, laughing when I hit him.